Sustainable management of an alpine national park: handling the two-edged effect of tourism

Attracting visitors to an alpine national park can open up additional sources of funding for species conservation. However, tourism also brings ecologically negative impacts to the park and, in particular, to endangered species. In this paper, we discuss the handling of this two-edged effect of nature-based tourism within the context of a national park's management decision. We develop a stylized model which frames the interaction of a representative largely unknown species, its habitat, and park visitors in an alpine ecosystem. In applying this to the protection of a rock partridge population in the Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria), we illustrate that a combined visitor and species protection policy can maximize steady state net benefits from tourism and conservation, while ensuring that the endangered species reaches its conservation target in the long run. Thus, even for a small, largely unknown species such as the rock partridge, and not only for popular species like the golden eagle, it is possible to endogenously generate a conservation budget by attracting visitors. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

European Hoteliers' Environmental Attitudes: Greening the Business

Although many hotels rely on the natural environment to attract guests, a survey of European hoteliers finds that environmental stewardship has taken a backseat to other operational concerns in many cases. Nevertheless, the surveyed hoteliers recognized that the hotel industry would do well to be more environmentally conscious. Managers in chain-affiliated hotels were generally more likely to pay attention to environmental issues than were independent operators, many of whom run small properties. The respondents noted that few hotel guests demand that hotels maintain environmental programs. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Stage and path dependence approaches to the evolution of a national park tourism partnership

This paper examines two approaches to the study of the evolution of tourism partnerships over time: a stage approach and a combined path dependence and path creation approach. They represent alternative frameworks to explain temporal trends in partnership management and activities. Previous applications of the stage approach to tourism partnerships have emphasized common phases in the evolution of their organizational arrangements and management activities. Path dependence and path creation ideas have not been used previously to understand tourism partnerships. The path dependence approach highlights continuities and changes between past and current practices in the organization of partnerships and in their activities. It helps establish if partnerships fundamentally alter the policy environment and practical outcomes, and thus if they are path-creating and innovative, and it also assists in explaining the influences on these processes. The two approaches are used to evaluate a partnership established to reduce conflicts around tourism and conservation in a British national park. The case study illustrates the valuable but different insights that the stage and path dependence approaches offer for research on partnership working..

Rain forest entrepreneurs: Cashing in on conservation

To help solve the problem of rainforest destruction in Latin America, several businesses are taking steps to preserve the vast resources of these regions. A clothing manufacturer, a pharmaceutical firm and an ecotourism company have proved that sustainable development can indeed be profitable..

Is tourism with a low impact on climate possible?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a range of different travel and tourism options, and quantifies the carbon-dioxide emissions resulting from international vacations, breaking down emissions categories into those resulting from transport, accommodation and recreation. The paper uses summary data to review a range of possible vacation scenarios and examines their relative carbon-dioxide emissions in order to compare the relative climatic impact of different forms of tourism and vacation options. The paper concludes that intercontinental flights and cruise ship travel are particularly carbon-intensive, which suggests that these two forms of tourism will be particularly vulnerable to any policy initiative to curb or price carbon emissions. Ends by considering whether climatically responsible international tourism is possible, and outlines some low-carbon options. The paper relates data on carbon emissions to the implications for tourism arising from climate change..

From whaling to whale watching: examining sustainability and cultural rhetoric

This paper explores whaling and whale watching to determine the viability of their divergent practices -- and explains why they coexist in some cases. Whale watching is often viewed as an ecotourism product and presented as an activity that is fast growing, holds potential for local regeneration, promotes conservation and sustainable practice and is ecological and profitable. Whaling is currently under considerable scrutiny and relies on economic and increasingly cultural rhetoric to support its viability. Contrary to some statements, it is rarely a long-established practice. The paper uses Japan and Iceland as examples to examine the sustainability frameworks and political rhetoric surrounding these activities, and asks whether whale watching might offer an alternative economy for the whaling/fishing communities in an era of conflict over sustainable resource use. The paper finds that whale watching participation grew from 9 million tourists in 2001 to 13 million in 2008, with revenues rising from $1 billion to $2.1 billion per annum over that period. Whaling relies heavily on state and private subsidies. We also find, however, that whaling and whale watching can co-exist, that both use sustainability-based rhetoric, but that global trends in public opinion and taste favour whale watching over whaling. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Event tourism governance and the public sphere

Political and sociological shifts have profoundly affected state, business and civil society relationships. This paper explores governance as a new form of public-private policymaking wherein stakeholders deliberate on and take action to achieve common goals. It examines how different public spheres facilitate (or not) sustainability debates, and specifically facilitate (or not) discussion about sustainable tourism. Using a case study of the 2009 Australian World Rally Championship, the paper explores the development of the public sphere. Tuckman's group development process -- forming, storming, norming and performing -- is employed as a lens to understand these processes. Key findings include: the way the public sphere is constituted has a major influence on the dialogue that takes place; citizens are currently reactive, rather than strategic and creative in their engagement; the "third way" project, seeking to empower communities, requires government commitment; there is a blurring of public-private interests; control of knowledge and expertise within the public sphere is largely controlled by corporate and state interests; fast action to secure events prevents debate and engagement; and a discursive public sphere is essential for transparent and accountable governance, and sustainable development, and to move beyond government by powerful corporate interests and extra-local rule systems. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

The community model and sustainability in tourist destinations: The case of the dolomites

The aim of this article is to highlight the impact of mass ski tourism on the environment in the Dolomites (Italian Alps), where in winter the principal activities are snow sports. In implementing this development model the Dolomite region has achieved important results in terms of numbers of tourists and economic development for entire localities. Nonetheless, some weaknesses in this model have come to light in terms of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The eTourism research group (University of Trento, Italy) has carried out two field projects with a view to understanding: 1) the importance of the variable "quality of environment" for the winter tourist when deciding on a destination, and similarly 2) how the major actors on the supply side approach local environmental issues. The results were used to formulate hypotheses regarding possible alternatives to the mass ski model of development for new or developing destinations within the region..

Market Integration and Ecosystem Degradation: Is Sustainable Tourism Development in Rural Communities a Contradiction in Terms?

Neoclassic economic theory suggests global market integration as a strategy to reduce poverty. In line with this paradigm, an increasing number of developing countries have focused on tourism to generate foreign exchange earnings and to meet rising workforce pressure. Coastlines in particular, have been at the forefront of tourist infrastructure development. The article describes tourism development in the village of Kiwengwa on the east coast of Unguja Island (Zanzibar), Tanzania. It is shown that changes caused by tourism are far more complex than economic theory suggests. Economically, tourism has substantially increased local income, but it has also led to a focus on individual benefit and dissolving kinship relationships, encouraged the abandonment of traditional resource-use strategies, contributed to the commoditization of local natural resources, and spread the idea that these resources can be replaced with imports. Overall, tourism has fundamentally disrupted the local socio-economic system and led to a self-reinforcing cycle of ecosystem degradation. Tourism development is nevertheless perceived as positive and sustainable, because (i) changes are complex and damage becomes perceptible only in the medium- or long-term future, (ii) the tourist industry tends to shift its impacts to remote areas, i.e. a supplying periphery, (iii) the village has become a center of resource allocation itself, with imports compensating for the losses in local ecosystem capacity. As a development option imposed by the transnational tourist industry, tourism leads to the creation of new centers (i.e. the former periphery) while simultaneously creating new peripheries. In a finite world with a limited hinterland for such a continuous expansion, this cannot be sustainable. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Carbon neutral destinations: A conceptual analysis

Gossling, S. 2009, Journal of Sustainable Tourism Vol 17 side 17-37.

This paper provides a critical review of the concept of "carbon neutrality" for tourism destinations within the framework of the UNWTO's Davos Declaration, a document ascribing responsibilities to various actors in the tourism industry to engage in greenhouse gas emission reductions. The paper assesses the planning frameworks of countries engaging with the concept, discusses the measures that can be taken to achieve "carbon neutrality", along with an evaluation of some of the theoretical and practical implications. An increasing number of destinations now plan to become "carbon neutral", often as a response strategy to pressure on the tourism industry to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. They aim to mitigate their contribution to global warming, and to develop their tourism industries by enhancing their image as being environmentally pristine and sustainable..

Sustainable tourism: learning from Indian religious traditions

Religious pilgrimages have taken place for many hundreds of years without causing the negative environmental, cultural and social impacts associated with tourism. Common features of pilgrimages are: not an excessive burden on the environment; beneficial to local communities; occur at certain times of year only; people carry their own baggage and purchase food, etc. locally; pilgrims are quiet and law-abiding; killing animals or taking from nature is taboo. Some lessons can be learned from these for modern tourism..

Marine Tourism Impacts on the Great Barrier Reef

Harriott, V.J. 2004, Tourism in Marine Environments Vol 1 side 29-40.

About 1.6 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) each year. Tourism on the reef and adjacent coast is worth over Aus$4 billion per year and employs over 47,000 people. While sustainable tourism is a goal of management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, tourism has some negative environmental and social impacts on the reef and coastal environment. Australian residents who were surveyed ranked the impacts of reef tourism highly as a threat to the GBR. In contrast, a sample of people with professional experience in reef environmental issues ranked reef tourism as a much smaller threat than other widespread impacts such as coral bleaching, agricultural runoff, and fishing. This study reviews the impact of the major components of marine tourism on the GBR and tourism management, and concludes that reef tourism produces generally localized impacts and is intensively managed on the GBR relative to other reef uses. Industry and management agencies have included education of reef visitors and tourism staff as part of a planned framework for sustainable tourism and recreation, and this education program should include promotion of a greater understanding of reef environmental issues..

An integrated and adaptive management model to address the long-term sustainability of tourist interactions with cetaceans

SUMMARY Rapid growth in demand for tourist interactions with cetaceans in the wild constitutes a challenge to management. Short-term animal behaviour changes can have long-term biological consequences for individual animals and populations. This paper reviews the whale-watching management context, describing the interplay of the macro (global), meso (national/regional) and micro-level (local/site specific) policy, planning and management settings. Here, an integrated and adaptive management model based largely upon the delineation and monitoring of limits of acceptable change (LAC) parameters is proposed to address current shortcomings in the long-term sustainable management of whale-watching activities. Although no integrated management framework currently exists, a comprehensive management approach must be developed and applied in the interests of the long-term sustainable management of tourist interactions with cetaceans in the wild. The proposed management model highlights the importance of integrating multiple stakeholder perspectives in a way that is both research-informed and adaptive. Beyond tourist interactions with cetaceans, this management framework could be applied to a wide range of wildlife management contexts. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Environmental impacts of rural second home tourism - Case lake district in Finland

Second homes are widespread in the Finnish countryside and represent a significant part of domestic tourism. In this paper impacts of rural second home tourism on natural environment and landscape are discussed mainly from a non-anthropocentric point of view and from the perspective of ecological sustainability. Both negative and positive impacts of second home tourism on nature, climate and landscape are distinguished Environmental impacts caused by housing and living, shoreline building and physical mobility related to second home tourism are highlighted. It is argued that mobility related to second home tourism and year-round use of second homes are likely to increase in the near future and consequently pose negative environmental impacts. The argument is based on current societal trends and on results of a questionnaire survey conducted amongst second-home owners living in the metropolitan region of Helsinki and possessing second homes in eastern Finnish Lake District. There is today a large political will to enhance second home tourism in Finland, which is seen crucial for revitalizing the declining countryside. Contradictions between rural development policy on one hand, and environmental protection on the other, are critically discussed and ecological sustainability of second home tourism explored..

Investigating the sustainability of cruise tourism: A case study of Key West

Conceptualization and anatomy of green destination brands

Insch, A. 2011, International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research Vol 5 side 282-290.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to extend the concept of green brands to destinations and to examine the application and limitations of green destination brands for nations adopting this positioning strategy. Design/methodology/approach - The paper identifies characteristics of green destination brands, drawing on established concepts in corporate branding, destination branding and green marketing. The paper demonstrates the application and limitations of the concept through an in-depth case study analysis of New Zealand's destination brand to explain the possibilities and problems of building green destination brands at a national level. Findings - The findings suggest that a holistic, strategic approach to building a green destination brand which emphasizes and qualifies the green essence of a nation's brand is required to avoid the pitfalls, cynicism and criticisms of greenwashing. Research limitations/implications - The research findings are embedded in the context studied - New Zealand's destination brand. Additional case studies at multiple levels - nations, regions, cities - would offer a rich database to gain a better understanding of the concept and the implications of green destination branding. Practical implications - Barriers to executing a credible green destination brand position are identified and the implications for destination marketing organizations and their stakeholders are discussed. Originality/value - A conceptualization of green destination brands is provided and the application and limitations of the concept are demonstrated through an in-depth case study of a nation that has adopted this positioning strategy. Rather than taking a snapshot research approach, a historical perspective enabled the development of the destination's brand positioning strategy to be captured. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

A growing body of research is emerging on tourism and partnerships in protected areas, but conceptual development remains fragmented. This paper tackles this challenge by focusing on three aspects important for sustainability: (1) complexity (nested systems of biophysical environments, tourism and park management structures, community-resident systems, local-global systems and use-conservation gap; (2) scale, structure and scope of collaborations (including community involvement and control) and (3) challenges of implementation and long term structuring (for sustainability and success). Some related questions are: How does the tourism system fit with the protected area system? Who represents "Nature" in negotiations over conservation and use? How can plans and programmes be effectively enacted at the local level for long term success? A theoretical discussion plus an example of community-based collaboration for conservation and economic development in Bolivia (Chalalan Ecolodge) are provided to explore these questions. Chalalan shows an evolving partnership between local and international stakeholders toward local control, and also a complex relationship between local-traditional and scientific knowledge, and cultural change..

Sustainable tourism development in Canada: practical challenges

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Ryerson University, Toronto hosted the 2002 World-wide Hospitality and Tourism Trends (WHATT) Roundtable discussion of Canada. The discussion focused mainly on the practical challenges and the role of educational institutions in sustainable tourism development in Canada. In addition to two joint chairs and the leading discussant, seven industry practitioners and seven academics from the hospitality and tourism sector discussed the definitions of "sustainable tourism development" and debated the key development issues in Canadian tourism and related research needs. The meeting agreed that there was a lack of applied research on Canadian tourism. The meeting therefore identified a few achievable action points and this article ends by reporting on nine related outcomes within a year after the first WHATT roundtable in Canada. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Ski Industry Response to Global Warming

Whereas the ski and snowboard industry has often been cited for its environmental impacts, including those related to tourism-induced traffic pollution, urban sprawl into formerly undeveloped mountainous regions, and the clearing of habitats for ski lifts and runs, the industry is beginning to take a pro-environmental approach with a particular focus on controlling the production of GHGs that contribute to climate change. According to the OECD Report, the winter tourism industry can and is responding to the changing climatic conditions through such adaptive measures as landscaping techniques to maintain snow (and minimize threshold amounts required to open slopes), use of white plastic sheets to limit glacial melt, diversification of tourism revenues, movement of ski areas to higher elevations and northern facing slopes, and increased reliance on enhanced snowmaking techniques..

Advancing conceptual understanding of partnerships between protected area agencies and the tourism industry: a postdisciplinary and multi-theoretical approach

This paper reviews a range of theoretical approaches to partnerships working between protected area agencies and the tourism industry. While partnerships are a hallmark of contemporary thinking about protected area management, research to date leaves considerable scope for development, application and testing of theory. The paper draws eight theoretical approaches from the literature with potential application to a study of the contributors to partnership success. It progresses a postdisciplinary approach to partnership research. A 72-item questionnaire was derived from the theoretical perspectives and completed by 100 partners. Analysis identified features perceived as potentially contributing to a successful partnership as well as the key outcomes of a successful partnership. The findings indicate the prominence of institutional analysis and development, social capital, environmental dispute resolution and network theories in explaining partnership success. Given the centrality of partnerships in protected area tourism and ongoing societal interest in the sustainability of such areas, this paper provides vital insights to further multi-theoretical, postdisciplinary research, and to the successful management of partnerships..

Managing for sustainable tourism: A review of six culturalWorld Heritage Sites

Landorf, C. 2009, Journal of Sustainable Tourism Vol 17 side 53-70.

This paper considers the relationship between heritage tourism and sustainable development, with special reference to World Heritage Sites (WHSs). It notes that while WHS status is not necessarily linked to tourism growth, all WHSs must now develop and implement a management plan to mitigate tourism impacts and sustain site significance. The paper explores the concept of sustainable heritage tourism and identifies two key principles of sustainable practice - a planning process that is long term and holistic, and multiple stakeholder participation in that planning process. Qualitative content analysis is used to determine the extent to which these principles have been integrated into the tourism planning process at six WHSs. The study found that a formal goal-oriented planning process was in evidence at all six sites. However, the process lacked a comprehensive and holistic approach to the wider issues of sustainable development, and genuine engagement with local community stakeholders..

Sustainable tourism research: An analysis of papers published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism

Lu, J.N., S. K. 2009, Journal of Sustainable Tourism Vol 17 side .

This paper reviews a content analysis of papers published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, the only journal exclusively devoted to sustainable tourism research over the past 15 years (1993-2007). Based on a detailed examination of the contents, a database was developed which consists of information about (1) volume/number/year; (2) study areas; (3) forms of tourism; (4) subject themes; (5) research perspectives; (6) concept and measurement and (7) methodology. A series of trends describing the growth of sustainable tourism research has been identified. The findings present the journal's contribution to theoretical debates, methodological sophistication and practical implications in sustainable tourism development. Future directions for sustainable tourism research are also discussed..

Constructing partnerships for protected area tourism planning in an era of change and messiness

Management of sustainable tourism in protected areas requires trade-offs between two goals: (1) protection of the key values that form the basis for preservation and (2) allowing access to visitors to enjoy and appreciate those values. These trade-offs occur within a context of lack of societal agreement on goals and lack of scientific agreement on the relationships between causes and effects; two conditions needed to identify and implement effective tourism management actions. While much tourism protected area planning has been dominated by a rational-comprehensive model, this approach is increasingly unsuccessful. In such "messy" contexts, partnerships are important tools in constructing the public interest, because they can provide the consensus and learning needed to develop and implement informed actions. Such partnerships do not just happen, they must be carefully engineered. Protected area tourism planning partnerships are characterized by certain attributes: representativeness, a sense of ownership, a learning focus and attention to relationships. However, these attributes are not easily attained, for they are facilitated by several contextual factors and processes such as trust, political and economic power and equitable access to knowledge..

the big picture: TOURISM & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

McIntyre, K. 2011, International Trade Forum Vol side .

Since the 1950s, tourism has experienced continued expansion and diversification, becoming one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world. As an export category, tourism currently ranks fourth globally after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. According to figures by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UN Conference on Trade and Development, the development of tourism has been identified as an important factor for at least 10 LDCs that will reach WTO graduation (the economic advancement of developing countries through industrialization, export development and rising living standards) thresholds over the next decade. According to the World Tourism Organization, demand for tourism services fell abruptly in mid-2008 but returned to growth in the last quarter of 2009 and continued to grow throughout 2010 and into the first quarter of 2011. The high-yield, low-impact ecotourism sector is perfectly suited to LDCs because they don't have the infrastructure required to manage mass-market tourism..

Sustainable tourism achievement through tourism firms marketing-mix

Muhcinǎ, S.P., V. 2008, Amfiteatru Economic Vol 10 side 277-282.

Conceiving their marketing-mix, the tourism firms' majority goes from market' demands and their own possibilities, based on products' characteristics. In sustainable tourism approach, the elements of marketing-mix assembly have different level of importance, considering the destination product' characteristics. The product must include some specific features that allow to be considered a good choice for sophisticated tourists and its price must reflect his high quality and the environmental care's policies. On the other hand, this product is made and sold by certain tour-operators and tourism intermediaries which have a significant importance in sustainable tourism through there's product design and quality. In the same time, the promotional policy is important because the tools that are used can inform people, can motivate tourists and influence the customers choice to buy a this sustainable destination product. In this paper, we are proposing to underline how the components of a tourism firm' marketing-mix can contribute on achieving the sustainable tourism..

A Fractal Approach to Sustainable Networks

This paper qualitatively illustrates how and why interdependence becomes significant in building coherent and sustainable network systems based upon human flourishing. Ethnographic case data of an icon tourism destination is provided to examine the structure, process and patterns that are essential for understanding network organization. The notion of fractals has been applied to more deeply understand the multi- dimensionality of networks. Through the fractal characteristic self- similarity, the data revealed aspects of volume-filling, reciprocity and enfoldment that were central to the transforming power of network organization. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

This paper looks at the challenging enterprise of managing protected areas for sustainable tourism. It notes that during the past 25 years multistakeholder conflicts, complexity and uncertainty have emerged and persisted as important issues requiring managerial responses. These issues reflect substantial paradigmatic shifts in pursuing and understanding sustainability. Governance directs attention to broad participatory approaches, and complex systems theory emphasises transformative changes and an integrative perspective that couples human and natural systems (a social-ecological system). The paper envisions the prospects of adaptive co-management as an alternative approach to protected areas management for sustainable tourism. It also makes the case for an interdisciplinary approach by highlighting important and informative developments outside tourism studies. Adaptive co-management bridges governance and complex systems by bringing together cooperative and adaptive approaches to management. In appraising the potential for adaptive co-management attention is systematically directed to conceptual, technical, ethical and practical dimensions. While adaptive co-management is clearly not a universal answer, experiences and knowledge from natural resource management raise salient prospects for the approach to be insightfully applied to protected areas for sustainable tourism..

Local discourses and international initiatives: sociocultural sustainability of tourism in Oulanka National Park, Finland

National parks have become important tourist attractions and tools for regional development. New international initiatives, such as PAN (Protected Area Network) Parks in Europe, now promote sustainable tourism in protected areas. This paper examines the sociocultural sustainability of tourism perceived by local stakeholders of Oulanka National Park in northeastern Finland. The central question concerns the role of PAN Parks certification in community and tourism development. Four discourses were identified, based on 40 semi-structured interviews exploring different views on sociocultural development pertaining to tourism in the national park: (1) integrating nature-based tourism and conservation, (2) defending the rights of local people, (3) stressing the economic utilization of nature and (4) accepting tourism development and the national park. Although local stakeholders mostly have a positive perception of tourism in the park, it cannot be concluded whether the park facilitates development in a sustainable manner or not. Key problems identified are lack of participation opportunities and contradictions with traditional subsistence economies. The various positions of stakeholders in these discourses tend to influence their views on sustainability. Findings imply the necessity to monitor the distribution of benefits and burdens of park development holistically to multiple stakeholders..

Access, Tourism and Democracy: A Conceptual Framework and the Non-establishment of a Proposed National Park in Sweden

Tourism, conservation, national parks and the interrelationship with regional development are important aspects of the high mountain region in the North of Sweden. Here, during the latter part of the 1980s there was a debate concerning the possibility of establishing a large national park in the area around Lake Tornetraesk. Even though various interested parties were represented in the working group, there was such a clash of interests that the plan was shelved for an indefinite period. The main obstacle was the resistance from local groups, principally in the township of Kiruna close by, who were afraid that their use of the area would be curtailed due to restrictions on such outdoor activities as fishing, hunting and the use of snowmobiles. This case is analysed in a conceptual framework of different "ecostrategies" for attitudes and behaviour with regard to landscape and the man-nature interrelationship. The framework is constituted as a four-field figure with the help of one axis illustrating the tension between "functional specialization" vs. "territorial adaptation" as point of departure for landscape perspectives. The other axis illustrates the tension between the strategies of "active" use vs. "passive" contemplation of the landscape..

APPLICATION OF SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES IN WINTER SPORTS TOURISM

Winter sports tourism is currently facing many challenges in its development. These challenges can be summarized into two basic ones. The first one includes the problem of saturation which is the consequence of a great boom in the development of skiing centres in the 1960s. The second challenge refers to the climate change problems that affect the sureness of snow which the development of winter sports tourism actually depends on. The previously mentioned problems, as well as the concern for the future, imply the need for the application of the sustainability principles in the tourism development in these destinations. Although the term sustainable development is an indispensable part of the development plans in general, as well as tourism development plans in almost every country of the world, and although it is theoretically a well advanced area of research, the question of the applicability of these principles in practice still remains unanswered. In this sense, a research problem of this paper is the acquaintance of decision makers in winter sports destinations with the term sustainable development, i.e. are the sustainability principles applied in the development of these destinations? For that purpose, a research in winter sports centres of Austria and Slovenia has been conducted. The results show that less than a half of the destinations involved in the research were familiar with this term, and in their development (plans) they are usually concerned with the economic impacts. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

APPLICATION OF SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES IN WINTER SPORTS TOURISM

Winter sports tourism is currently facing many challenges in its development. These challenges can be summarized into two basic ones. The first one includes the problem of saturation which is the consequence of a great boom in the development of skiing centres in the 1960s. The second challenge refers to the climate change problems that affect the sureness of snow which the development of winter sports tourism actually depends on. The previously mentioned problems, as well as the concern for the future, imply the need for the application of the sustainability principles in the tourism development in these destinations. Although the term sustainable development is an indispensable part of the development plans in general, as well as tourism development plans in almost every country of the world, and although it is theoretically a well advanced area of research, the question of the applicability of these principles in practice still remains unanswered. In this sense, a research problem of this paper is the acquaintance of decision makers in winter sports destinations with the term sustainable development, i.e. are the sustainability principles applied in the development of these destinations? For that purpose, a research in winter sports centres of Austria and Slovenia has been conducted. The results show that less than a half of the destinations involved in the research were familiar with this term, and in their development (plans) they are usually concerned with the economic impacts. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Seeing a new side to seasides: culturally regenerating the English seaside town

Smith, M.K. 2004, The International Journal of Tourism Research Vol 6 side 17-28.

The "buzzword" for the 1990s was undoubtedly the concept of sustainability in all its various manifestations, not least in the field of tourism development. Its successor for the 2000s looks set to become the phenomenon of cultural regeneration, which is already dominating the urban landscape of much of western Europe. However, the extent to which regeneration through cultural development and the revival of tourism can become the new panacea for declining resorts is open to debate. This issue will be discussed in more depth in the context of English seaside towns, focusing in particular on a case study of Southend-on-Sea. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Analytic and Dynamic Approach to Collaboration: A Transdisciplinary Case Study on Sustainable Landscape Development in a Swiss Prealpine Region

The involvement of stakeholders and the public in societal decision processes has lately received increased attention. We suggest that appropriate and tailored techniques should be selected and integrated to provide the prerequisites for inclusive involvement depending on the issue, type, goals and phase of the decision process in question, i.e. an analytic, systematic and dynamic approach to collaboration. In a transdisciplinary case study design we integrate diverse analytical methods whereby a process of mutual learning between science and people from outside academia is strived for. Our framework for collaboration is illustrated by a case study on sustainable landscape development in the Swiss prealpine region of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

Reasons for going green in serviced accommodation establishments

This paper reports on the preliminary findings of an exploratory study on environmental decision making in the context of largely small serviced accommodation establishments. It focuses on the motivations of owner-managers for becoming environmentally involved and their reasons for joining an environmental accreditation scheme. The study was conducted in Scotland using face-to-face in-depth interviews with members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, an environmental accreditation scheme for tourism businesses. Initial analysis suggests that involvement in environmental activities may be driven by economic as well as ethical considerations. The results point to the role played by personal values and beliefs in small firms' decision making and the need to gain a greater understanding of the complexity of motives that drive the small hospitality business owner.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT].

The potential of rural tourism and the sustainable development of rural areas

Šimková, E. 2007, E a M: Ekonomie a Management Vol 10 side 57-62.

Paper describes role of rural tourism for the development of rural areas. It's an alternative for agricultural entrepreneurship and could be beneficial both for profitability and for revitalization and living social environment. It highlights the importance of rural tourism for the future of mankind and different needs for doing business in this area. Author assumes that meeting customer's demands in the current business environment is more and more difficult. It is also very demanding. Prior setting up a rural tourism oriented business, it is advisable to cautiously analyze the general policy of the region. It is necessary to react to changes of consumer behavior, such as increasing demand habits and orientation to goods and services that are not really necessary. The goal of this article is to set procedure of the analysis of the rural tourism potential, and stress out the necessity of exercitation of the effective planning and marketing approach as a key aspect in rural tourism entrepreneurship. The main steps of strategic and marketing planning are also described. The article also reveals the relationship of the "Local Agenda 21" as a fundamental instrument of the territorial development from the view of the sustainable development. The described CATWOE methodology and "Environmental Assessment" negotiate impacts of all activities for environment. As any business activity, also rural tourism is profit-oriented. Risk analysis must therefore be performed with systematic approach. "Risk Assessment" and its usage are shown at the SWOT analysis. The analysis of rural tourism and main strategic business rules are based upon information from a large number of literatures and practical experience of the author. She analyzed strategic documents and gathered lot of information..